470 



BOTANY. 



Tribe II. Neottiece, witli a single dorsal anther, containing 

 two or lour soft pollen masses attacbed to a viscid disc. Our principal 

 genus is Spiranthea. 



Tribe III. Ardhusece, witli a single terminal anther, contain- 

 ing two or four powdery pollen masses. 



Our native Arethusa and Cal'ipogon are fine representatives of this 

 tribe. The Vanilla plant {Vanilla planifolia, and other species) of 

 tropical America, a climbing epiphyte, produces fleshy capsules 12 to 

 35 cm. (5-10 in.) long, which are highly aromatic, and niucli used in 

 the manufacture of confections, beverages, medicines, etc. When first 

 introduced into the East Indies, where it is now much grown, it failed to 



perfect fruit ; artificial p llination hav- 

 ing been resorted to, however, the dif- 

 culty at once disappeared. (Fig.363.) 

 Tribe IV. Ophrydice, with a 

 single anterior anther, containing two 

 stalked pollen masses, each attached to 

 a viscid disc (Fig. 361). 



Our pretty little Orchis upectabUis, 

 and many species of Ilaienana, are 

 our principal reprc seutatives of this 

 tribe. From the tubers of Orchis mas- 

 cula and other European and Asiatic 

 species, the starchy-mucilaginous and 

 highly nutritious substance " Salep," 

 is obtained. 



Tribe V. Vandece, ■with a single 

 terminal or dorsal anther, containing 

 waxy pollen masses attached to a vis- 

 cid disc. 



We have no native representatives 

 of this tribe. Many of the tropical 

 species are of wonderful forms; indeed, 

 as Mr. Darwin says of them, they are 

 " the most remarkable of all Orchids." In seme genera they assume 

 the most curious forms, resembling insects of various kinds, birds, etc., 

 etc. In Gatasetum saccatum, a diclinous South American species, 

 when certain fensitive parts of the column of the male flower are 

 touched by an insect, the pollen masses are by a peculiar contrivance 

 thrown out forcibly in such a direction as to strike the insect, to 

 which it adheres by a viscid disc, and is thus carried to and brought in 

 contact with the stigma of the female flower. 



Tribe VI. IHpidirnlrea;, with a sinirle terminal anther, contain- 

 ing stalked , waxy pollen masses, these not attached to a viscid disc. To 

 this tribe belong in the United States Tipularia. Bletia, and Epiden- 

 drum, the latter an epiphyte, occurring only in the Southern States. 



Fig. 363 — Sexual organs of the 

 flower of Cipripeditmi calceolus, the 



Sprianth,j^;, removed, ^jgldeview. 

 f, hack view. C, front view. /, the 

 inferior ovury ; gs, the column or pjy- 

 nosremium ; aa, stamens ; s, sterile 

 stamen or staminode ; », stigma. — 

 After Sachs. 



